Justin Abdelkader tabbed by coach Mike Babcock as Red Wings' most improved player this season

Detroit's Justin Abdelkader has nine goals in his past 19 games, after going 23 games without a goal.The Associated Press

CALGARY, Alberta – Jakub Kindl has made tremendous strides, not only from last season but also from the start of this year.

But, when Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was asked Wednesday about his most improved player, he hesitated only briefly before declaring that distinction goes to forward Justin Abdelkader.

“Abdelkader, for me, has gone from being a fourth-line center to playing with Pavel (Datsyuk) every night and tied with (Henrik) Zetterberg, (Johan) Franzen and (Daniel) Cleary for goals (nine),'' Babcock said prior to the game against the Calgary Flames. “In a (full) regular season that’s a 20-goal season. That’s a home run for him, and he’s an every-dayer, he plays every night.

“So, when you added that altogether, I think he’s been the (most improved).''

Babcock seems to think Kindl, the young defenseman with four goals, 13 points and a plus-13 rating, is a close second.

“Kindl’s got a real good skill-set,'' Babcock said. “For him to be what he’s capable of being, he’s got to be every day.

“Media like you if you’re good offensively and coaches like you if you’re good defensively. So let’s see if we can’t get both groups liking him.”

When Babcock put Abdelkader on Datsyuk's wing early in the season, he never considered replacing him with a more skilled player, even when the young forward was experiencing a prolonged offensive slump and the team was having trouble scoring.

“The reason he gets to play with Pav is Pav likes him,'' Babcock said. “He gets him the puck back. He's at the net and gets out of the way. He’s not confused with what his role is.

“Lots of people think you should have another real skilled guy playing with (Datsyuk); that’s Zetterberg or Franzen. But, it’s not three guys who want the puck. There’s one puck. Pav wants it, and he wants somebody to give it to him. That’s what Abby does.”

Abdelkader expected to be centering the fourth line but said it's been fun playing on the wing with Datsyuk.

“When I first started I just wanted to keep my game simple and play the way I play, which is physical and be in on the forecheck, skating, being in front of the net for Pav or whoever it was, hanging onto pucks, get him the puck, or take pucks to the net,'' Abdelkader said. “It's nice to be rewarded with some goals. It's just keeping my game simple. Hopefully I can be a complement to Pav.''

After going 23 games without a goal (one assist), Abdelkader has scored nine goals in his past 19 games.

“It was tough, coming from the lockout and not playing definitely hindered me,'' Abdelkader said. “But, once I got my legs going, even though I wasn't scoring, I felt like I was doing a lot of good things and eventually pucks would start bouncing my way.

“To get one off my foot and one off my shoulder (like he did March 16 at Vancouver), sometimes that's all you need, to see the puck go in the net once in a while.''

Babcock likes Abdelkader on the wing more than at center.

“Some guys see it all, and some guys don’t,'' Babcock said. “In this league, to be a center it’s real good if you want to be a point-producer you’ve got to be able to see things, you got to be able to make people around you better.''

Abdelkader said of playing the wing: “It allows me to be on the forecheck and be down low some more. And, obviously, playing with Pav or Mule or Z, they're all tremendous players. I'm just trying to go out there and do my part.''